Santiago Hezze's Return Repairs Olympiacos's Midfield | OneFootball

The most encouraging development after Olympiacos’ difficult first leg against NEC is the expected return of Santiago Hezze.

Fos Online reported on Wednesday evening that the Argentine midfielder should be available for the second leg in Nijmegen. The report added an important qualification: availability does not guarantee immediate selection in the starting lineup.

That distinction matters because Hezze is not simply another option returning to the bench. He is the midfielder whose absence was most visibly connected to the structural problems NEC exposed in Piraeus.

What Olympiacos missed in the first leg

The García–Mouzakitis partnership gave Olympiacos passing control in certain phases, but NEC repeatedly found space once the first line of pressure was broken.

The problem was not that either midfielder performed without value. It was that the pairing lacked Hezze’s range or ability to anticipate opoonents' transitions.

When Olympiacos’ attacking line pressed forward, large spaces appeared behind it. NEC circulated through their back three, found the free player and forced the midfield to defend while retreating.

His presence would not automatically solve every tactical issue, but it would give Mendilibar considerably more margin for error.

Christos Mouzakitis carried much of Olympiacos’ progression responsibility in the first leg.

He was asked to help build attacks, move possession through pressure and simultaneously protect against NEC’s transitions. Those responsibilities can conflict.

A midfielder trying to advance the ball cannot always remain positioned to stop the counterattack. Hezze’s return could create a clearer division of labor.

Hezze could remain more alert to defensive transitions while Mouzakitis moves forward to connect with Chiquinho, the wingers and El Kaabi.

That would allow Olympiacos to improve both phases without changing the midfield entirely.

Fitness availability is not the same as competitive readiness.

If Hezze has missed significant training or match preparation, starting him in a high-intensity European away match could create another problem. NEC will attempt to stretch the midfield, increase the tempo and force Olympiacos to defend repeated transitions.

A partially fit Hezze may still improve the structure for 60 minutes. He may not be ready to sustain the demands of the entire match.

Mendilibar therefore has three realistic options:

The choice should depend on training evidence rather than reputation.

The press must improve with him, not merely rely on him

There is a danger in treating Hezze’s return as the complete tactical solution. Olympiacos’ first-leg problem was collective.

The front line pressed without enough support from midfield throughout the entirety of the match. The midfield sometimes advanced without the defensive line following. Once NEC escaped the initial pressure, Olympiacos became disconnected.

Hezze can close spaces faster than García or Mouzakitis. He cannot cover every structural mistake alone.

For his return to make the greatest difference, Olympiacos must press through clearer triggers:

Hezze should strengthen the system. He should not be expected to rescue an unchanged system through individual running.

His presence could alter the centre-back selection

Panagiotis Retsos’ fitness remains uncertain after his first-leg injury.

That means Olympiacos may enter the return with a changed central-defensive partnership. A less familiar pairing would benefit significantly from having Hezze positioned in front of it. His recovery speed can reduce the number of open-field situations faced by Carmo, Pirola or Smajlović.

He can also help Olympiacos maintain a higher defensive line without leaving the centre-backs permanently exposed to direct running.

In that sense, Hezze’s availability becomes even more important if Retsos cannot start.

The attacking effect may be indirect but important

Hezze is not primarily a creative midfielder. His return could still improve Olympiacos’ attack.

When a team trusts its defensive protection, the full-backs and attacking midfielders can advance with greater confidence. Mouzakitis can take more risks. Chiquinho can remain closer to El Kaabi. The wingers can attack the box rather than constantly preparing to recover.

Better defensive balance often produces better attacking positioning.

Olympiacos’ low-quality chance creation in the first leg was partly connected to caution and disconnection. The team struggled to sustain pressure because NEC could escape too easily.

Hezze could help Olympiacos keep the game in NEC’s half for longer periods.

The second leg remains a tactical test

The 0–0 score means Olympiacos require a victory in Nijmegen. Hezze’s expected return improves the available tools, but it does not change the central demand.

Olympiacos must create more without becoming more vulnerable.

They need to support El Kaabi more closely, attack NEC’s back three with better movement and prevent the Dutch side from repeatedly breaking into space after turnovers. Hezze may be the most important individual addition to that plan.